Abstract

Cellular modifications induced by Xiphidorus minor and Xiphinema vulgare on rice and tomato differed extensively. Root tips of both plants when fed upon were transformed into galls. However, ultrastructural observations showed a gradient of resistant response with callose-like production in rice and an osmotic imbalance in protein and starch metabolism, together with phenolic deposits and lytic processes, in tomato fed upon by X. minor, whereas in the presence of X. vulgare injured tomato cells were partially digested and rice cells gave a strong hypersensitive reaction.